Laminated diaphragm



Nov. 1924- 1,516,630

c. J. COBERLY LAMINATES El AFHRAGM Filed Sept. 1922 3/ yvrf ra m CCHRE/VCEJ Cams/m);

BY zm rzf Armm Patented Nov. 25, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE J. COBERLY, 0! LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. ASSIGNOB TO CALIFORNIA COMPRESSED GAS CORPORATION.

LAMINATED A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

DIAPHRAGI.

Application filed September 6, 1922. lerial Io. 586,535.

To all whom it 7Il(l' l/ concern:

lie it known that I. CLARENCE J. country, a citizen of the United States. residing at Los Angelcs, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful improvement in a Laminated Diaphragm, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to diaphragms of the character employed in pressure regulators and has its particular application in pressure regulators which are employed for controlling a flow of gases from a high pressure container to a low pressure dlstributing system.

Such regulators are commonly employed in autogenous welding equipment for controlling the pressure of the gases employed. Various flexible materials have been employed in diaphragms for this purpose; rubberized fabric being employed to a certain extent and corrugated metal being also employed. It is found necessary to frequently renew rubberized fabric owing to the disintegration of the rubber contained therein. The metallic diaphragms owing to the fact that they are necessarily of very thin material must be made from rolled stock in order that the required fineness in gauge of the metal may be attained. Mtist metals assume a fibrous structure upon being rolled, these fibers being extended in direction of the rollin operation. Such plates are, therefore, of itferent characteristics in the direction of the grain and in the direction across the grain.

It has been found that when stresses are applied to such rolled sheets in the direction of the fibrous structure that such materials have greater strength and durability than when the forces are ap lied thereto in the direction transversin t 1e fibrous structure. Owing to the varying characteristics of rolled materials, such as are used in metal diaphragms. the diaphragms after a period of use assume a set due to the unequal resiliency with the fibers and across the fibers, which results in a distortion of the diaphragm, and which renders it incapable of perfectoperation.

My invention provides a diaphragm which is of equal flexibility and strength in various directions throughout its plane of extension, and which will not become set or r distorted In the comparatively short period of time in which diaphragms of this nature ordinarily deteriorate. My invention employs preferably two sheets of rolled material having a fibrous structure, these sheets being so placed that the fibers therein are directed at angles of substantially ninety degrees. These laminations are secured together by: vulcanization or by other cementitious means, so that the two laminations act as a single sheet having the combined properties and characteristics of the two sheets.

The especial advantages of my invention will be made evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawing which is for il lustrative purposes only,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a gas pressure regulator in which a diaphragm embodying my invention is employed.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a diaphragm, the upper lamination thereof bein partially cut away and both laminations icing marked to indicate the direction of extension of the fibrous structure of the metal in each lamination.

The employment of diaphragms in pressure regulators is quite extensive. The type in which I illustrate the utility of my invention comprises a shell 11 having a ca 12 secured thereupon, into the end of whicli an adjustment screw 13 is threaded; the bottom cover 15 having a means 18 for guiding one end 16 of valve yoke 19 which is secured to the diaphragm 20 at the center 21 thereof. A bridge 24 extends diametrally across the body 11 and has formed therein a gas inlet passage 25 which connects with a nozzle tip 26 screwed into the center of the bridge 24. Gas under pressure entering through the tip 26 builds up the pressure within the chamber 28 formed within the body 11, and flexes the dia hragm 20 upwardly against the action 0 the regulating spring 30. \Vhen the pressure within the chamber 28 balances the compression of the spring 30, the tip 26 is closed by the fiber washer 31 and further inlet of gas into the chamber is prevented. Outlet of gas from the chamber 28 is attained through a threaded openin 33.

The repeated exing of the diaphragm 20 constitutes a very severe deteriorating action and the diaphragm must be constructed of very durable materials in order to have the required resistance against such deteriorat- I As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, I prefer to employ laminations 3:) and 36 of rolled German silver. These laminations are vulcanized one upon the other as shown in Fig. 2; the fibrous structure of the lamination 36, as indicated at 37, extending in a direction substantially at right angles to the fibrous structure 38 of the lamination 35. I have found such a diaphragm to be very durable and to have substantially equal flexibility in all directions, and that the tendency for the plate to warp after it has been in use for a time is neg igible.

Although I employ German silver laminations vulcanized together, I am of the belief that there are other metals equally suitable for this purpose, and therefore, do not desire to confine the scope of my invention to the use of German silver as a lamination, nor is it desired to be limited to vulcanization as a cementing means.

I claim as my invention:

1. A diaphragm of the class described, comprised of la-minations of thin sheets of metal, disposed with their fibrous structures extendin relatively crosswise.

2. A iaphragm of the class described, comprised of cemented laminations of thin sheets of metal, disposed with their fibrous structures extending relatively crosswise.

3. A diaphragm of the class described, comprised of laminations of thin sheets of metal, vulcanized to ether with their fibrous structures extending relatively crosswise.

4. A diaphragm of the class described, comprised of two laminations of thin sheets of metal, disposed with their fibrous structures extending relatively crosswise 5. A diaphragm of the class described, comprised of two laminations of thin sheets of metal, vulcanized together with their fibrous structures extending relatively crosswise.

6. A diaphragm for pressure regulating devices, comprising two sheets of thin German silver laminated together with the fibrous structure of one sheet directed at substantiallv ri ht angles to the fibrous structure 0 sai other sheet.

7. A diaphragm for pressure regulating devices, comprising two sheets of thin German silver laminated together with the fibrous structure of one sheet directed at substantially right angles to the fibrous structure of said other sheet, said sheets being vulcanized together.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 1st da of September, 1922 at Los Angeles, California.

CLARENCE J. COBERLY.

California, for an improvement in Laminated Diaphra'gnm,

Certifie ate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that the assignee in Letters Patent No. 1,516 630, granted November 25, 1924, upon the application of Clamnoe J. Coberlz, of ins Angeles, was erroneously described and specified'as Celifornio Compressed Gas Corporation, whereas snid assignee should have been described and specified as 6" Compressed Gm (ompany;. and vthat the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the some may conform to themoord of the ease in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of January, A. D. 1925.

[m] KARL FENNING,

dating Umncuiorm of Patents. 

